Edward ‘Chip’ Hailstone was born in 1969, in Kalispell, Montana, USA, and is a hunter as well as a reality television personality, best known from being a part of the documentary series “Life Below Zero”, in which he appears alongside his family. The documentary airs in the programming of the National Geographic Channel.
The Net Worth of Chip Hailstone
How rich is Chip Hailstone? As of mid-2019, sources inform us of a net worth that is over $100,000, earned through success in their various endeavors.
His work with the show has helped him gain significant income, and as he continues his endeavors, it is expected that his wealth will also continue to increase.
Early Life and Move to Alaska
Chip grew up in Kalispell, and was raised by his parents. At a young age he was taught how to hunt and fish, two life skills that would become pivotal in his life later on. He enjoyed hunting, and as a chil, imagined himself living as a hunter. In 1988, he took on a trip towards Alaska to try out his hunting skills, and his trip turned into a permanent move to the state.
He settled in the small city of Noorvik, Alaska which has around 700 in the population. During his time there, he learned how to hunt using various equipment, including always bringing a 12-gauge antique rifle, bow and arrow, and a .22 caliber long rifle. He also learned how to hunt using his bare hands if necessary. Due to the harsh environment in Alaska, he’s learned to make use of every part of the animal’s body – most of the skin and fur are turned into clothes to use or sell. The remains often become decorations which are also sold.
Chip Hailstone
Life Below Zero
Eventually, Hailstone and his family’s lifestyle caught the attention of television producers, who approached them with the proposal of airing a documentary television program featuring their lives. They would earn income, gain wide exposure, and other benefits from working with the show which is why they accepted. The documentary series entitled “Life Below Zero” is produced by BBC Worldwide, and airs on the National Geographic channel, and illustrates the daily and seasonal activities of hunters living in remote areas of Alaska.
These hunters do so as a form of subsistence living, in below zero conditions. The show gives viewers an insight into their daily struggles trying to survive with the resources they have. Chip and his wife Agnes live on the Kobuk River, Noorvik, a place that is just 19 miles north of the Arctic Circle. They have seven children together; his wife has roots from all over Alaska, and is focused more on the show compared to Chip, but the whole family often shares screen time in an episode. There are also other cast members of the show, with the series showcasing other families or individuals, including Sue Aikens, Andy Bassich and Jessie Holmes.
Posted by Life Below Zero on Friday, December 18, 2015
Show Absence – Imprisonment
In 2017, viewers of “Life Below Zero” noticed that Chip was absent from the show for most of the season. The producers didn’t make any effort to disclose information about his absence, and in the meantime the show focused on his wife. Later on, it was revealed that he was sentenced to 15 months in jail after being convicted on two counts of making false statements, and another two counts of perjury. He spent 10 of the 15 months in jail, and was cleared from all convictions in late-2017.
After his sentence, he was under probation from using modern firearms, which led to his wife doing most of the shooting during their hunting sessions. Chip later opened up about his arrest, stating that the problem happened way back in 2011 when his stepson became involved in an altercation with another family living in Noorvik. One of the residents pointed a gun at his daughter, and a policeman at the scene reportedly physically assaulted her. He then filed for a restraining order against the trooper, but his actions were disputed by other troopers in the area. Many fans have expressed their distaste of how the case was handled, as the length of his incarceration seemed too long.
For his personal life, it is known that Chip has been married to Agnes Hailstone for over 27 years, and they have five children together. The couple met after his move to Noorvik – she is a native Alaskan Inupiaq, has spent her entire life in Alaska, and has lived there the longest among cast members of “Life Below Zero”. According to her, her family has ties to thousands of years’ worth of knowledge which has been passed down through generations. She has two children from a previous relationship, who Chip later adopted as his own.
Similar to numerous personalities, he is active online through accounts on social media, indicating that his life is not totally disconnected from the amenities of the modern world. He has an account on Twitter which has over 160 followers, using the platform to post photos taken from his trips outside with the family, plus photos of the beautiful scenery in the area. He also uploads occasionally to a YouTube channel, which has over 280 subscribers, often showing a few minutes of footage from his life in the state.
